Proverbs 15:22 Commentary and Bible Study

The Christian does not cease learning once he is past the early stages of the life of faith, but should continue to grow in knowledge until the very last day. His attitude to those who would advise him is therefore to welcome all they have to say. He makes himself the friend of those who are more experienced in the walk of faith than himself, and goes often to them with the inevitable quandaries of life in this fallen world. Although he treats all counsel with discernment and tests what he is told, he is ready to trust the wise to instruct him in things beyond his present understanding. Above all he is acutely aware of his own weakness, inadequacy, and lack of knowledge, so that he prizes above all the man who has been instructed by the Lord. That, to him, is worth more than all the knowledge which the worldling has, for it is knowledge which endures for ever and prepares him for the world to come. It is taken for granted by the proverb that the counsel in question is good and comes from those who fear the Lord. If he accepts this counsel he will be established and will not be reluctant to give his counsellors credit for the help he received from them. But a proud man wants to give credit to no one and to succeed all alone. He thinks that he possesses all wisdom in himself and is too proud to acknowledge a debt to any who are wiser than himself. Some may be afraid of unscrupulous counsellors who only seek to gain influence and to manipulate others, and certainly such counsel is more of a snare than a help, but such will be identified by the wise man and this is not the sort of counsellor in mind here. Others are sure they know what their counsellors will advise and have already made up their minds to go another way. They would rather not have any pressure placed on them to change their minds and so avoid seeking counsel. A Christian may secretly plan some course of action knowing that it would not be approved of by his believing friends and so he keeps quiet about it. This is not some private matter about which he is perfectly entitled to make a private decision but something which involves other believers such as a plan to leave his local church where he is serving the Lord and of great use to the fellowship, and to move elsewhere simply because it will advance his career and his material prospects.When we receive conflicting advice, it is our responsibility to choose the wisest path, but we will consider the advice fairly, and not choose to ignore everything that goes against our personal ambitions. We will be ready to submit to good advice when it is obviously based on sound Scriptural principles, and to set aside purely personal advantages that do not benefit the Lord’s cause but only our own interests.